A violent homeless man repeatedly punched and threatened a "grass" who caught and reported him for stealing teabags, milk and sugar from a breakfast club.

He followed the frightened disabled man to a bank and ordered him to withdraw £2.50 cash or he would hurt him badly, a court heard.

The drug user also pretended to police during an earlier incident that his ex-girlfriend, her new lover and two other men stole £800 from him during a robbery.

Glen McMahon, 38, of no fixed address, admitted assault with intent to rob and damaging a window on February 22.

He also admitted perverting the course of justice on August 27, 2017.

Michele Stuart-Lofthouse, prosecuting, told Grimsby Crown Court that a volunteer at a breakfast club centre for the homeless caught McMahon stealing teabags, milk and sugar and reported him.

McMahon was banned from the Grimsby centre. He was abusive towards the volunteer.

The 42-year-old disabled man was in St Peter's Avenue, Cleethorpes, when he spotted McMahon under a duvet.

He crossed the road to avoid a confrontation but McMahon shouted at him, caught up with him and punched him in the face.

Glen McMahon was jailed after attacking the man who reported him for stealing from a breakfast club for the homeless (Image: Humberside Police)

He shouted "You're a grass" and told him: "Give me £2.50 or I'm going to hurt you badly".

McMahon continued to demand £2.50 and walked with the man to his bank where he punched him to his cheek, eye and ear about six times.

The man's available balance was only £2.14 but McMahon told him to withdraw it from inside the bank while he watched.

He threatened to stab the man and a security guard ushered him outside but he continued to shout abuse.

He was ejected but returned and said: "I want my £2" and punched the man in the stomach. He broke a window.

He later told police: "I banged a paedo and you'll need more officers than this when I kick off."

In the other incident, McMahon made a 999 call to police pretending that his ex-girlfriend, her new boyfriend and two other men ran after him when he left a Scunthorpe bank and grabbed his wallet with all the money in it.

He claimed that he was chased into a pub, was punched by them and £400 was stolen.

He pretended that another £400 was withdrawn from his account but a two-month investigation, including viewing CCTV, showed that he was lying.

His ex-girlfriend was arrested and spent eight hours in custody.

McMahon had convictions for seven previous offences, including assault, drugs and dishonesty matters.

Craig Lowe, mitigating, said the assault victim was punched but suffered minor injuries.

McMahon had a difficult upbringing and was his life spiralled out of control.

"He is keen to become and remain drug-free," said Mr Lowe.

McMahon was jailed for three years.

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